Fox Sports Southwest reporter Patti Smith will be playing hurt Monday night in San Diego as she helps host the network’s Texans pre- and postgame shows.

Smith, the network’s point person in Houston, suffered a torn anterior cruciate ligament in her left knee Aug. 24 in an accident involving an equipment cart at Reliant Stadium.

She worked during the Saints-Texans game the following day and has continued on the job since the accident. Since post-surgical patients face travel restrictions, she will not undergo surgery until next Thursday, after she flies to and from San Diego to host FSSW’s Texans shows surrounding the season opener against the Chargers.

“I’ve worked a long time on getting the shows prepared, so this is something that I want to do,” Smith said. “I’ll ease back on the painkillers (Monday night).”

Smith said she was riding on an equipment cart when a piece of gear on the back of the cart hit an awning on Budweiser Plaza at the stadium.

“It was like a sailboat hitting a bridge,” she said. “A pole hit the overhang, which flipped me off the cart. I did a flip in the air, landed on my head and suffered a torn ACL.”

Smith did not learn the extent of the injury until the next day, when she was examined by Texans team physician Dr. Walter Lowe.

“He told me that the ACL was torn and said he didn’t think he had a brace small enough to fit me,” Smith said. “I said, ‘C’mon, Trindon Holiday (who stands 5 feet 5) played here.’ So they found me the Trindon Holiday brace, slapped it on and we did the show.”

After she returns from San Diego, Smith will undergo surgery, to be performed by Dr. Lowe, and plans to be on hand for the Texans’ home opener Sept. 15 against the Titans.

FSSW’s “Texans Countdown Live” begins two hours before game time, starting at 7 p.m. for the Monday night game and at 10 a.m. for noon Sunday starts.

Dave Raymond and Tony Banks will host from the network’s studios in Irving, and Smith will be at game sites with a group of regular contributors, including Texans radio announcer Marc Vandermeer, Chronicle reporter John McClain and former Texans lineman and KILT (610 AM) talk show host Seth Payne. “Texans Wrap Live” will air immediately after the game.